. Consequently, we were quite jet-lagged, but thanks to Julio (former colleague of Pablo's in London), we were received with open arms in Santiago by his parents and 3 sisters. We spent a couple of really nice days in Julia and Herman's house, being well looked after, ate yummy Chilean food (´cazuela´- home-made soup), slept well and did some sight-seeing in Santiago itself. We can already see that South America got it's own pace and style (coffee shops with no bathroom for girls?!) but we really like it.

We visit Valparaiso, a busy coastal town with an old quarter made of colourful metal houses and then start heading south. With autumn starting in South America, we have to get south to Patagonia asap, before it is getting too cold and windy to actually travel there.

We go via Lota, an old mining town and spent a day visiting the park and mine (underneath the sea and, god, they've never heard of health and safety here). That evening, in the search for food, we stumble into a tiny local bar close to a football pitch and get talking to the locals. We end up having dinner with Gustavo and his family. The Chileans we've met so far are just so friendly and open!

The next day we are off to Contulmo, a tiny but beautiful village in the mountains and next to a lake. It's got lot's of German heritage - architecture, food (Kuchenes = cakes, yumm), unfortunately, we are missing their big 'colonisation' party by a week. We also visit a local ruca, the assembly hut of the indigenous of Chile & Argentina, the Mapuches. We learn a lot about their history, unfortunately, it's a similar sad story of not being allowed on their old lands and loosing their culture step by step, but the Mapuches are fighters and are holding on to their traditions

After Contulmo we travel to Valdivia, another town of German heritage. Who would have thought there are so many here??? A stop at the local brewery, Kunstmann, is a must. Valdivia was once one of the most beautiful cities of Chile but an earthquake in the 60's destroyed most of it. The sea lions in the harbour, waiting for the fish market to close and clean the left over fish into the river is therefore the biggest attraction here. It is also were we see the first tourists again...

...but as we arrive in Pucon, we're back on the main tourist track. Pucon is a hiving tourist centre, known for its lake and the volcano Villarrica (2840m) and we decide we just have to climb it. (Why!?) The next day it is raining cats and dogs and we are unsure whether we can actually climb the next morning. Turns out we can and that the rain came down as snow on the volcano...We get up at 4am and start climbing at about 4.30am (maybe a bit later as our car got stuck in snow). It is breathtaking - the sky is so clear, milky way is clearly visible, the snow is untouched, and when the sun rises, the colours are incredible and we can even see the shadow of the volcano in the sky! Slowly but surly we ascend, creating the way as we go, sometimes getting stuck in piles of snow, sometimes sliding over ice - but it's a gorgeous, sunny day and only the last bit is really windy

. At 12pm, we're at the top!!! The volcano ist still active, so tons of sulfur smoke is coming out of the crater and we can only stay a few minutes. Plus. It's f...cold here, Pablo's fingers almost freeze taking a photo. So down we go, much more fun as we can partly slide down on our bums, yippee! We also need to wear our spikes, very adventurous. At 5pm, we're back in our hostel, exhausted but happy. Next day, we treat ourselves to a visit to some natural hot springs.

And now, it´s time to head to Argentina, we go the long way to San Martin de los Andes, which takes us through lots of little villages, woods and by many lakes. We stop in Puerto Fuy for the night and visit some pretty waterfalls nearby. The next day, we take a very of the lake to the border and, as there is no public transport, hitch a ride with the truck drivers going to the border. It's all very exciting and adventurous, and after another ride, organised for us by the border police, we get into San Martin! Another pretty town, another pretty lake! We are very happy to rent a cabin, instead of a room, and relax, cook and go for walks around the lake. Today, we are actually going horseback riding for the first time, scary!//Hallo aus Suedamerika! Wir sind jetzt auf dem letzten Kontinent unserer Reise und haben schon 2 spannende Wochen hinter uns.

Lovely memoir writing I just love to read about your adventures. Once again, the photos are wonderful. Keep them coming.
I hope your fingers are okay, Pablo. It looked cold up there. Did you rent your winter clothes? You have so many climate changes. Do you have to buy some clothing, and then leave it for the natives? By the way, how much do you carry? Just a large backpack? When will you be flying home, in July?
Love you guys.

It's spring here, and I wish you were here, Anja, to enjoy raking and mowing the yard. I know how you loved it!

It is so wonderful that your parents host another young person. I really miss doing that. It's so good to have you two as part of our life. Let us know when you will get married in Spain or Germany. Everyone wants to come to the wedding!